Electric switch actuating mechanism



E. HANssLER 2,790,041

ELECTRIC SWITCH ACTUATINC MECHANISM April 23, 1957 Filed June 22, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 23, 1957 E. HANssLER 2,790,041

' ELECTRIC swrTcH ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed June 22. 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Leg, Humm United States Patent "ice ELECTRIC SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM Edward Hanssler, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Colonial- Premier Company, a corporation of Illinois Application June 22, 1953, Serial No. 363,252

6 Claims. (Cl. 200-61.58)

This invention relates to an electric switch actuating mechanism, and is particularly concerned with cam means operable by rotation of a part of a lamp standard in either direction to actuate the switch for a oor, table or other lamp.

In a lamp constructed in accordance with the present invention the lamp standard includes a conduit for carrying the wiring and a tubular shell rotatably mounted relative to said conduit. The switch is of the conventional push-button variety having an actuating button or stud that may project in either vertical direction or laterally therefrom. A cam plate is operatively connected to said tubular shell and is rotatable therewith. The cam plate may be positioned above or below the actuating stud, or in laterally spaced relationship to it, and is provided with a plurality of cam surfaces, preferably four, engageable with the actuating stud to operate it every time the cam plate is rotated in either direction, for example through an angle of ninety degrees in the case of a cam provided with four cam surfaces. In lamps having a plurality of circuits, the energization of each circuit depends upon the number of times the switch is operated, rather than upon the particular position of the cam. j

The structure by means of which the above and other advantages of the invention are attained will be described in detail in the following specification, taken in conjunc. tion with the accompanying drawings, showing three preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a oor lamp embodying the invention, in which the switch actuating mechanism is in the upper portion of the lamp adjacent the electric light bulb;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View showing the switch actuating means;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the switch actuating mechanism with portions of the lamp standard broken away;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a lamp in which the switch actuating mechanism is in the base of the lamp, the switch mechanism shown being a variation of the embodiment shown in Figs. l to 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the lamp shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the means for rotating the cam of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the switch actuating mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 1 the lamp includes a base 2, a standard 3, a cam housing 4, a switch housing 5, and a conventional reilector assembly 6. Standard 3 includes a conduit 7 for carrying the wiring 8, and a rotatable tubular shell 9 surrounding the conduit. The base, conduit, and both housings are rigid relative to each other and may be secured together in any suitable manner. The reflector is secured to housing 5 in conventional manner.

Base 2 includes a at surface 10 at its upper edge which forms a support for the lower end of tubular shell 9. The upper end of tubular shell 9 extends through an opening 11 in the bottom of housing 4. Tubular shell 9 is free of any rigid connection with either base 2 or housing 4 and may be manually rotated relative thereto in either direction.

A switch 12 mounted in housing 5 is provided with a button or stud 13 projecting vertically therefrom. The switch is of the conventional push-button variety and is actuated by moving the stud in its longitudinal direction. One such push-button switch is shown and described in the patent to Boynton No. 2,267,895, issued December 30, 1941. Since the push-button switch is conventional and the construction thereof forms no part of the present invention, it has not been shown in detail. It is to be understood that any form of push-button switch may be used in accordance with the present invention.

The stud 13 of switch 12 is normally retained in its extended, inactive position in any suitable manner, as by spring pressure, and moves to such normal position after each actuation as soon as the actuating pressure is released. The switch may be a single action switch or may be connected to a plurality of circuits in which the individual circuits are energized and de-energized in regular sequence depending upon the number of times the stud has been moved the required longitudinal distance.

A cam plate 14 is positioned in housing 4 and has a shank 15 depending into tubular shell 9. A screw 16 connects the tubular shell with shank 15 so that rotation of the shell in either direction rotates the cam plate in the same direction. The cam plate extends under stud 13 and is provided with a cam surface engageable with the end of the stud upon rotation of the cam plate. The cam surface includes a plurality of radially spaced projections 17 each of which extends above the cam plate aA distance equal to the distance stud 13 must be moved inof the projections 17 passes stud 13. The amount ofv rotational movement of tubular shell 9 to cause one of the projections 17 to move stud 13 inwardly and actuate the switch will depend upon the number of projections 0n the cam. When the cam surface has four equally spaced projections 17 a rotational movement of approximately ninety degrees is required to actuate the switch.

In Figs. 5 to 8 the lamp base 18 is provided with a flat surface 19 at its upper end, and a tubular shell 20 is rotatably supported thereon. The upper end of shell 20 is retained by a flanged member 21 which is rigidly secured to the conduit 22 for carrying the lamp wiring. A switch 23 having an actuating stud 24 is mounted in base 18. Switch 23 is essentially the same as switch 12 except that it is horizontally disposed so that stud 24 projects laterally therefrom.

Tubular shell 20 is provided adjacent its lower edge with an annular collar 25 rigidly secured to its inner surface. The collar 25 has two notches 26 (Fig. 8) extending from its inner surface at idiametrically opposite points. A horizontally disposed cam 27 rotatably mounted in base 18 has an integral sleeve 28 extending upwardly into engagement with collar 25. Sleeve 28 is provided with upstanding extensions 29 which t into notches 26 so that when tubular shell 20 is rotated in either direction it will rotate cam 27 in the same direction. The cam surface comprises a vertical rib 30 shaped in the shape of a clover leaf and the outer vertical lsurface of the rib engages stud 24 -to actuate switch 23 every time any of the outwardly bulged or lobe portions of rib 30, indicated at 31, moves past the stud in either direction. As shown,

Patented Apr. 23, 1957Y there are four lobe portions spaced about ninety degrees apart, so that, as before, switch 23 is actuated upon each quarter turn of shell 20 in either direction to actuate switch 23. There may, however, be a greater or lesser numbern'of lobe portions on the cam, as desired.

In ,the ,embodiment of Fig. 9\ the lamp .is provided 4with a tubular shell 32 enclosing conduit `32 andoperatively connected ,to a cam 33 in the same manner-shell 2,0 is rconnected `to cam '27. Cam Y3,3,is similar to cam 14 except that `it is positioned above the switch 34, and the cam surfarce 35 which engages stud `36 is reversed relative to Cam ..14-

In each embodiment a stud projectingfrom a switch is `rrioved Vinwardly by a Vcam inthe longitudinal direction of the stud to actuatje the switch. The switch is actuated to energize one circuit and deener-g i,ze the preceding circuit every Atime `one ofthe projectionsfl?, 31 or 35 of the earn moves past the stud in either` direction regardless of ftherotational position of any of the parts relative to the rest othelamp structure.

lAlthough I `have described preferred embodiments of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that ,the Adescription thereof` is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of the structure may be modied or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the cam andlswitch relationship of Fig. 2 can be used in place of the .embodiment illustrated in Fig. 9 and vice versa. Accordingly, I ydo not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

A.Lelainu 1. An electric lamp comprising a rotatonally fixed standard, a base for the standard and aixed thereto, a switch housing secured to the upper regions of the standard and including a switch support extending laterally from the standard, a `lamp switch secured to the switch support kand including a reciprocating stud for controlling the operation of the switch, a cam plate surrounding the standard, and tubular shell means surrounding the standard, said shell means being rotatably mounted in the base and switch housing and secured to the cam plate for rotating said plate around the standard, said cam plate having a vplurality of connected substantially identical rises and falls, said stud riding on the cam and being reciprocated to actuate the switch as the cam is rotated, the reciprocating movement of the stud being substantially 4 the same in either direction of rotation of the cam about the standard.

2. An electric lamp as described in claim l, said tubular shell being spaced from the standard, and a sleeve on the cam plate disposed in the space between the standard and tubular shell to space the shell from the standard.

3. An electric lamp as described in claim 1, said switch support comprising a plate secured to and surrounding the standard, said `switch housing being secured l.to the standard through said plate andhaving a radially disposed shoulder ,adjacent the cam plate.

4. An electric lamp comprising` a base, a housing vertically SPced fr om the base, a standard 4attixed to the base and housing and holding the base and housing rotationally tixed withk respect to one another, a tubular shell surrounding the mid-portion of the standard and mounted for rotation relative to the standard, a switch support extending laterally from and affixed to the standard, `a cam plate having a sleeve mounted for-rotation about the standard, means for locking the sleeve to-the.

shell for rotation therewith, ya switch for controlling `the operation of the lamp secured to the switch support, and a stud in the switch controlling the operation of the switch and extending into sliding Contact with the cam plate, said cam platethaving a plurality of connectedconsecutive `rises and falls of substantially the same contour such that tl'xeoperation vof the switch is substantially independent of the direction of rotation of the shell.

5. An Ielectric lamp as described ,in ,claim 4, said cam and switch being disposed inthe lamp base.

V6. A `lamp as described in claim 4, the means vfor -securing-the `sleeve to the shell comprising a ring secured to the inside ofthe shell and provided with :axially extending slots 4and toothed extensions ,on the cam `sleeve and fitting `into l-the slots inthe ring.

References .Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENIS 

